Gibraltar Chronicle 6th December 2006
The Gibraltar Citizens Advice Bureau has today launched a new leaflet intended to help people spend their money this Christmas. The leaflet has been developed by GCAB working in partnership with the Gibraltar’s Bankers’ Association. The bureau is an independent charity that aims to help people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by trying to influence policymakers.
GCAB Manager, Pili Rodriguez, explains the Bureau as part of its development programme has a Money Advice Clinic that aims to assist clients to resolve their financial problems.
“In the run up to Christmas we feel it is a good time to alert the public on overspending and thus avoid getting into financial difficulties. GCAB working in partnership with the Gibraltar’s Bankers’ association have developed this leaflet intended to help people spend their money at Christmas,” she says.
The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential and impartial and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality.
“Improving people’s ability to make financial decisions is beneficial to everyone. Helping people access the education, information and advice they need to make financial decisions with confidence is central to protecting consumers.”
CAB in United Kingdom have for some years been operating similar clinics. The programme used has been drawn-up in conjunction with the British Bankers association. CAB advisors have successfully completed the training scheme with the Money Advice Trust (UK).
Dr Bernard Linares, the Minister responsible for the Citizens Advice Bureau, has welcomed the joint effort of CAB and the Gibraltar bankers Association, to help advice members of the public both on wise and ethical spending during this Festive season.
Meanwhile, the Gibraltar Bankers’ Association (“GBA”), while primarily a trade association, is always interested in assisting any organisation in the furthering of financial education amongst banking staff and the public in general.
This is the reason why the association decided to support the Gibraltar Citizens Advice Bureau in its campaign to educate and assist the general public and help them avoid and/or deal with any financial difficulties through a change in circumstances they should talk to their bank/building society without delay. The procedure to follow is set out in the GBA Banking and Mortgage Code of Conduct which can be obtained from GBA website at www.gba.gi. Pili Rodriguez says that ultimately prevention is the best cure when talking about handling financial difficulty.
“Whereas banks as commercial entities will follow responsible lending practices so should consumers exercise constraint and responsible borrowing which may not only be obtained from banks but from friends, family and other sources.
This is not a new problem, as Charles Dickens summed up in Mr Micawber’s sage advice in David Copperfield (1850) annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen, nineteen six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery,” she adds.
“Borrowing in itself is not evil and it is an accepted form of modern finance. It is overextending oneself and not budgeting that leads to problems in the longer term. The GBA and CAB wish Gibraltar an enjoyable festive season and a prosperous new year!”
The Citizens Advice Bureau can be contacted at telephone 20040006, fax 20042081 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . You can also visit our website which is www.cab.gi.
GCAB Manager, Pili Rodriguez, explains the Bureau as part of its development programme has a Money Advice Clinic that aims to assist clients to resolve their financial problems.
“In the run up to Christmas we feel it is a good time to alert the public on overspending and thus avoid getting into financial difficulties. GCAB working in partnership with the Gibraltar’s Bankers’ association have developed this leaflet intended to help people spend their money at Christmas,” she says.
The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential and impartial and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality.
“Improving people’s ability to make financial decisions is beneficial to everyone. Helping people access the education, information and advice they need to make financial decisions with confidence is central to protecting consumers.”
CAB in United Kingdom have for some years been operating similar clinics. The programme used has been drawn-up in conjunction with the British Bankers association. CAB advisors have successfully completed the training scheme with the Money Advice Trust (UK).
Dr Bernard Linares, the Minister responsible for the Citizens Advice Bureau, has welcomed the joint effort of CAB and the Gibraltar bankers Association, to help advice members of the public both on wise and ethical spending during this Festive season.
Meanwhile, the Gibraltar Bankers’ Association (“GBA”), while primarily a trade association, is always interested in assisting any organisation in the furthering of financial education amongst banking staff and the public in general.
This is the reason why the association decided to support the Gibraltar Citizens Advice Bureau in its campaign to educate and assist the general public and help them avoid and/or deal with any financial difficulties through a change in circumstances they should talk to their bank/building society without delay. The procedure to follow is set out in the GBA Banking and Mortgage Code of Conduct which can be obtained from GBA website at www.gba.gi. Pili Rodriguez says that ultimately prevention is the best cure when talking about handling financial difficulty.
“Whereas banks as commercial entities will follow responsible lending practices so should consumers exercise constraint and responsible borrowing which may not only be obtained from banks but from friends, family and other sources.
This is not a new problem, as Charles Dickens summed up in Mr Micawber’s sage advice in David Copperfield (1850) annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen, nineteen six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery,” she adds.
“Borrowing in itself is not evil and it is an accepted form of modern finance. It is overextending oneself and not budgeting that leads to problems in the longer term. The GBA and CAB wish Gibraltar an enjoyable festive season and a prosperous new year!”
The Citizens Advice Bureau can be contacted at telephone 20040006, fax 20042081 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . You can also visit our website which is www.cab.gi.
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